A collection of highly popular Pokemon YouTubers were banned over the weekend by Google for allegedly being involved in “activity that sexualises minors.” However, the streamers have since been cleared of the accusations and have been reinstated with the popular video service.
As reported by the BBC, YouTube streamers Mystic7, Trainer Tips and Marksman each had their accounts removed from YouTube after having each posted footage to the service. Each video consistently used the term “CP,” reportedly having been the cause of the banning.
The term refers to “combat points” within the Pokemon world. However, YouTube’s artificial intelligence confused the term as meaning “Child Pornography.”
Well over 400 hours of footage is uploaded to YouTube every minute. As a result, it has become practically impossible for the service to manually check each and every piece of footage for copyright infringement or explicit content. Consequently, an algorithm is enforced through an artificial intelligence to determine if any given content on the service meets YouTube and Google’s terms and services agreements. If the content does not meet those standards, then the content is flagged and removed. In some cases, the accounts of those that uploaded the flagged content are also banned.
Simply by using the term “CP,” Mystic7, Trainer Tips and Marksman recently found themselves on the sour end of this algorithm. Taking to Twitter, Mystic7 has now come forward with a statement on the matter.
“So my channel just went down for community guideline strikes for “sexual content”… @TeamYouTube yal into Pokémon or something??”
Taking to the social media platform, Marksman has also come forward with a few statements on the matter.
“Alright, so YouTube accidentally terminated my channel for a community guideline strike 1st offense, here’s how and what happened, the 7 year streak of uploading continues”
“I think my channel is completely back and the strike has been removed and the video in question involving “sexual” content is back. Thank you to @Fwiz @Chen and their involved teams for helping <3″
“Initially I was told my channel would be reviewed to be reinstated on Tuesday because it was the weekend and then President’s Day. I’m VERY thankful YouTube was able to review it sooner and get it back within 24 hours.
“Being down for multiple days is a big hit for creators.”
Marksman has since decided to re-upload the video that initially had him banned from the service. Check it out below.
Fellow YouTube content provider Trainer Tips has also come forward with a statement.
“In case anyone at @TeamYouTube is taking notes on today’s mishap, CP stands for Combat Points. I’m on board with fighting back against inappropriate content, but your algorithm needs a lesson in CONTEXT.
“Also, just to reiterate, MANUAL REVIEW BY A HUMAN BEFORE TERMINATION”
“I uploaded a full explanation of why my channel was terminated yesterday, which led me to discover an even bigger issue happening on YouTube right now.
“Parents of young children, please watch. #WakeUpYoutube”
“Can we move this conversation from ‘YouTube messed up’ to ‘how do we better protect our children online?'”
Taking to YouTube, Trainer Tips has now also decided to offer a detailed reaction to the recent incident. Check it out below.
After surmounting pressure from the Pokemon and YouTube community, all three YouTube accounts have since been restored. The issue has since raised attention to the seemingly apparent issues with YouTube and Google’s automated algorithm. This is only a few of many content providers to have had their accounts banned due to an automated error.
The difference, however, is that some content creators never get their accounts re-approved. When banned, these content creators are banned from their entire Google accounts, not just YouTube. Thanks to the external pressures caused by the active communities of both Pokemon and YouTube, these content creators were able to quickly get back to doing what they love most.
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